Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jun 22, 2012 6:35:32 GMT -5
Olivia's eyes took in the scene seeing that the younger girl was in trouble as she was the closest to her she took action. She grabbed one of the heavy frying pans from the kitchen and whacked the offending person over the head with it. There was a dull ring as his head hit the metal before he could slowly topple over she kicked his ribs so that he sprawled to the side and not on the poor girl. "All right the next person to threaten one of my friends is going to get their face knocked in!" She practically yelled in a very un-lady like, undiplomatic and very un-Olivia like way. She stood there her face angry and looking kind of like a Skanidian as he enters the beserker rage. One of the bandits laughed and attacked her she whacked his sword stroke away from her with the pan then jabbed him in the stomach with it. He stumbled back the breath knocked out of him. Olivia was very angry and pretty much done with this whole situation. And when that happened to her people usually got hurt weather they were bandits or not.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 22, 2012 10:47:54 GMT -5
Marcus felt Marrow shift and they both rolled as Olivia slammed into him. Marrow had an iron grip on Marcus’s arm and pulled him on around until his momentum was arrested by the chair which Marcus managed to avoid somehow. Marcus went skidding on over, almost at Rolan’s feet and just in front of the two bandits that had come in from Tam’s room. Using his momentum, Marcus rolled on back up to his feet and circled around, away from Rolan so the Highlander had room to maneuver. He glanced at his bow lying on the floor half under the table and behind Marrow who was getting to his feet with a glare in Olivia’s direction.
Marcus drew his saxe knife in his left hand and his smaller throwing knife in his right and made a lunge at Marrow. He wanted the bandit leader to attack him, not the girls and it seemed to work for Marrow still gripped his own wicked-looking narrow blade and leveled a gaze at Marcus full of challenge and contempt. ‘Big mistake,’ Marcus thought. His mentor was Rick Greenriver, a plainsman and the son of a tribal chief. If there was a ranger in the Corps better at hand-to-hand knife fighting, Marcus hadn’t seen him yet and everything Rick knew, he’d taught to Marcus. Marcus grinned at the man and they stepped toward each other.
He was aware that Tessa was in trouble, but he wasn’t in a position to help her with Marrow standing between them and he hoped the girl could hold her own for a few minutes. Then all thoughts of the others in the cabin drained from his head as he focused on Marrow, Marrow’s knife and his movements as they began to dance with each other in the center of the room.
Marcus deflected a blow from Marrow by raising his arm, the saxe knife blade was lying along his forearm and he used it to block. Marrow pulled back and suddenly jumped in, trying to get inside Marcus’s reach, but Marcus countered the move by melting away and spinning to the left as Marrow’s blade once more slid down the saxe knife blade sending sparks into the air.
Marcus felt a disturbance in the air just above his right ear and instinctively ducked and kicked out backwards with his foot. He connected with the stomach of another bandit who had just entered through Rick’s window and had been trying to conk him on the head. Marcus’s kick sent the man reeling back into the bedroom doorway knocking down two more bandits behind him. Then Marrow was on him, using the distraction to his advantage and Marcus struggled for a minute, both of them caught in a hold on the other as they circled once more. If it came to brute strength, Marcus knew he would lose, so he disengaged and jumped back, nearly tripping over the legs of the man he’d just kicked in the guts.
Marrow pressed the advantage, just as Marcus hoped he would and lunged at him again, raking the long knife blade across Marcus’s chest as the ranger rapidly backpedalled. With a sudden switch of direction, while Marrow was extended, Marcus slipped to the side, flipping his saxe knife around and rammed the blade up under Marrow’s arm on his right side. Marrow’s eyes widened in a look of surprise and then he collapsed at Marcus’s feet, blood running from the corner of his mouth.
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a1ko4
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 77
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Post by a1ko4 on Jun 22, 2012 18:35:01 GMT -5
There was a dull ring as his head hit the metal before he could slowly topple over she kicked his ribs so that he sprawled to the side and not on the poor girl.
Tessa smiled gratefully at Olivia and turned away. She lifted her poker and began to conk the other bandits with it, while staying sufficiently away from the range of their knives.
Marrow’s eyes widened in a look of surprise and then he collapsed at Marcus’s feet, blood running from the corner of his mouth.
Tessa's eyes widened, was the bandit dead? Then she felt a whoosh of air behind her and whipped around. The theif from before, the one that the Courier had hit with a pan, was standing behind her with a threatening look on his face, a knife in his hand, and a swelling bump on his head. Tessa gasped.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 22, 2012 19:11:34 GMT -5
Marcus didn't wait for Marrow to hit the floor before he sprang toward Tessa, seeing the bandit rise up behind her.
As she turned and gasped, Marcus dove, pushing her as gently as he could but still hard enough to knock her out of the way as he ploughed into the outlaw, hitting him square in the stomach with his shoulder. He drove the bandit backward into the kitchen counter top and felt some ribs crack as the wind blew out of his lungs with a loud whoosh!
Marcus grabbed the man's forehead and slammed his head backward into the cupboard knocking him out again. "Better stay down this time," he growled in the man's ear. Then he turned to Tessa and held out his hand to help her up, feeling guilty he had shoved her, but in the heat of the moment he hadn't seen any other way to move her quickly enough before the bandit's knife found its way into her ribs. He stepped on the bandit's knife and casually kicked it under the table as he tried to distract Tessa.
"Bluebird, are you okay?" Marcus asked her, "I didn't hurt you did I?" He glanced at Olivia, being sure to stay out of range of her frying pan, "And you My Lady, are you okay as well?"
He wondered how many more bandits were lurking or if they had gotten them all. "Great job Ladies!" He said with admiration, "you both were amazing!"
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a1ko4
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 77
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Post by a1ko4 on Jun 22, 2012 19:22:38 GMT -5
As she turned and gasped, Marcus dove, pushing her as gently as he could but still hard enough to knock her out of the way as he ploughed into the outlaw, hitting him square in the stomach with his shoulder. He drove the bandit backward into the kitchen counter top and felt some ribs crack as the wind blew out of his lungs with a loud whoosh!
Tessa hit the floor in a sitting position, a bit surprised and confused. She hadn't had time to react when the ranger ran into her and now she was on the floor.
Then he turned to Tessa and held out his hand to help her up, feeling guilty he had shoved her, but in the heat of the moment he hadn't seen any other way to move her quickly enough before the bandit's knife found its way into her ribs. He stepped on the bandit's knife and casually kicked it under the table as he tried to distract Tessa.
"Bluebird, are you okay?" Marcus asked her, "I didn't hurt you did I?"
Tessa took his hand and stood up, wincing, now her butt hurt. "Nah, I'm fine," she told him, she was only bruised, "And my name's Tessa, you can stop calling me Bluebird."
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jun 23, 2012 9:50:52 GMT -5
He glanced at Olivia, being sure to stay out of range of her frying pan, "And you My Lady, are you okay as well?"
Olivia glanced over at him still slightly angry at the bandits. "Yes I'm fine Ranger Marcus." She paused she figured if he was going to call her My lady she saw no reason why she shouldn't be formal right back. Besides she hated the title My Lady made the person either sound like he was trying to be romantic or it made her feel like an old lady. But then again her brain wasn't really working properly so she could be wrong. "Which is the least i can say for this man." She poked the downed bandit with the handle of her pan. He gave a groan she quickly flipped the pan and whacked his head again giving him a very heavy concussion. "I don't think he's going to get back up for a little while." She looked around the room tense waiting for another bandit to show his face. If they did there was no doubt in her mind that she was going to whack them upside the head with her frying pan. Provided she could reach, she raised one eyebrow at her train of thought. Then looked down at herself. She was rather small wasn't she? Yup, she wouldn't be able to reach their head unless they were doubled over which if she was quick enough she could make them do. Or she could just stand on a chair and do it. She frowned at herself where was all of this coming from? This was most unlike her! She shouldn't be having such violent thoughts. She sighed. "I blame the lack of coffee." She thought.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 25, 2012 14:12:47 GMT -5
Tessa took his hand and stood up, wincing, now her butt hurt. "Nah, I'm fine," she told him, she was only bruised, "And my name's Tessa, you can stop calling me Bluebird."
Marcus looked her over quickly, ensuring himself that she really was okay, seeing her wince he wasn’t convinced of that. “Tessa… that is a beautiful name!” he smiled at her, “but to me you will always be Bluebird.” He gave her a wink and tried to shield her from the rather gruesome scene in the middle of the cabin of Marrow and the other three dead bandits Rolan had disposed of.
He glanced at Olivia, being sure to stay out of range of her frying pan, "And you My Lady, are you okay as well?"
Olivia glanced over at him still slightly angry at the bandits. "Yes I'm fine Ranger Marcus." She paused she figured if he was going to call her My lady she saw no reason why she shouldn't be formal right back.
Marcus winced, taking the hint. It seemed he never could say the right thing around beautiful women. He truly wondered how Rick was such a smooth operator and how he had managed to get through five years as Rick’s apprentice without understanding anything about women.
The man at Olivia’s feet groaned and Marcus started to move toward him in case he woke up. Olivia beat him to it, however and wacked the man on the head again with the cast iron skillet. "I don't think he's going to get back up for a little while." She looked around the room tense waiting for another bandit to show his face.
Marcus stared at her for a moment, a look of pure admiration crossing his face which was quickly replaced with a business-like look of a person in authority who knew what the heck he was doing. Hopefully she hadn’t noticed, he thought as he peeked out the window to the porch and yard beyond.
“You know Olivia, you are a bit terrifying with that weapon,” Marcus said casually while pointing to the frying pan and looking at her out of the corner of his eye. "I had no idea they teach frying pan in Courier School." He was managing not to smirk, but he probably shouldn’t have said anything because he wasn’t at all certain how she would take it. She looked as if she might just use it on anyone that came within reach. Marcus made sure he was outside of the circle of wrath as he examined the body of Marrow, cleaning out the bandits pockets and depositing the contents on the table.
Rolan had taken care of the other bandits that had made it into the cabin and a quick scan on the inside showed that no torches had landed inside the cabin. Flames were flickering just below the kitchen window however and smoke was starting to curl in through the broken pane and fill the cabin.
“Tessa, take that bucket there and throw that water out the window on that fire.” Marcus ordered. He ran into Rick’s room, looking for Snarkin, but the man was nowhere to be found. ‘Probably ducked out during the fighting, oh well,’ Marcus thought as he scanned the back yard. He didn’t see any movement there either. He was going to have to go out and check though to be sure they got all the bandits and to make sure the cabin wasn’t on fire.
He slipped out the window and ducked down into a crouch with his cloak pulled tight around him. He had retrieved his bow and his knives were sheathed again in their proper places after he had hurriedly wiped off the blood. He slipped cautiously along the wall of the cabin until he came to the lean-to that sheltered the ranger horses during bad weather. Flames were licking at the slate roof from a torch lodged in the groove connecting the lean-to to the cabin roof. Marcus pulled himself up onto the roof swiftly and grabbed the sputtering torch and ground it out on one of the slate tiles. He remembered the week in his first year as an apprentice when Rick had insisted they replace the thatch roof with slate. Rick had been tired of the incessant leaking and spent his own money to purchase the slate then he and Marcus installed it. As with everything Rick did, he used it as a learning tool for his young apprentice and Marcus hated to admit it, but those lessons had stood out in his mind in the few intervening years and made an impression on him. The fact that his bed wasn’t directly under a steady drizzle of rain was a plus too, Marcus remembered. Now he had one more reason to thank Rick’s foresight for the slate was slow to burn.
Marcus crawled up the roof and peeked over to the front side of the cabin. The torch that had landed there had gone out and was lying along the gutter just over the door, a thin trickle of smoke curling up from it. Marcus thought that accounted for all the torches he’d heard hit the cabin, but he moved around the edge of the roof, checking each side to be sure. The only serious flame was under the kitchen window at the one end.
He jumped down off the roof and made his way around the corner to help Tessa put out the flames. The torch had caught the pile of firewood stacked up against the house aflame and it was starting to scorch the wall of the cabin.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jun 25, 2012 19:54:09 GMT -5
Marcus stared at her for a moment, a look of pure admiration crossing his face which was quickly replaced with a business-like look of a person in authority who knew what the heck he was doing. Hopefully she hadn’t noticed,
Olivia who was looking at him and was trained to notice such things raised an eyebrow. She was really beginning to have the hunch that this guy thought she was pretty and was starting to like her. She wasn't quite sure what to do about that. No guy had really ever been like that toward her. No respectable gentlemen that is. She had endured her fair share of rude comments and stares.
“You know Olivia, you are a bit terrifying with that weapon,” Marcus said casually while pointing to the frying pan and looking at her out of the corner of his eye. "I had no idea they teach frying pan in Courier School." He was managing not to smirk, but he probably shouldn’t have said anything because he wasn’t at all certain how she would take it. She looked as if she might just use it on anyone that came within reach. Marcus made sure he was outside of the circle of wrath as he examined the body of Marrow, cleaning out the bandits pockets and depositing the contents on the table.
Olivia almost burst out laughing but she didn't she remained calm. "I know, many a rat have fallen to me and my fearsome frying pan. And by the way we prefer the term Diplomatic Training. And no they don't teach us how to use a frying pan in Training. In fact they don't teach us much self defense now that I think about. I learned how to use a frying pan as a weapon because my mother is terrified of mice rats, and any large bug such as spiders, and beetles. She always had be kill them so I would always use a frying pan. It's quite a useful weapon." She told him as he emptied out the bandit's pockets. She sighed, she was so confused as to why the bandits wanted her in the first place. This was all so troubling. They had gone through a lot of trouble to get her. It didn't make sense what would they want with a Courier? It's not like they could ransom her. Maybe they could question one of the bandits that were unconscious she looked around they needed to tie them up. She thought she heard one of them groaning, she searched harder for some rope.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 28, 2012 12:06:25 GMT -5
"I know, many a rat have fallen to me and my fearsome frying pan. And by the way we prefer the term Diplomatic Training. And no they don't teach us how to use a frying pan in Training. In fact they don't teach us much self defense now that I think about. I learned how to use a frying pan as a weapon because my mother is terrified of mice rats, and any large bug such as spiders, and beetles. She always had be kill them so I would always use a frying pan. It's quite a useful weapon."
Marcus chuckled and then he looked at her in surprise, “Really, they don’t train you for self defense? That seems like an oversight to me, with the way couriers are always travelling around.” Marcus didn’t have time at the moment to think on it much, but he promised to revisit the topic with Olivia once things calmed down a little. “Well, it seems if there is someone after you, it might be wise for you to learn to defend yourself, not that you’ve done too badly today, but you might not have a frying pan handy out on the road,” he said with a grin. “I can give you some pointers if you are interested and have the time later, but hold that thought for a moment. I'll be right back.”
Then he excused himself and ducked into Rick’s bedroom and made his way outside the house to put out the fires.
(OCC> that should bring us back to the point at the end of my last post so we can pick it up from here again. I just wanted Marcus to answer her before he went climbing out Rick’s window. LOL)
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a1ko4
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 77
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Post by a1ko4 on Jun 29, 2012 12:41:45 GMT -5
“Tessa… that is a beautiful name!” he smiled at her, “but to me you will always be Bluebird.” He gave her a wink and tried to shield her from the rather gruesome scene in the middle of the cabin of Marrow and the other three dead bandits Rolan had disposed of.
Tessa folded her arms across her chest and rolled her eyes at the ranger. She didn't really care what he called her.
“Tessa, take that bucket there and throw that water out the window on that fire.” Marcus ordered.
Tessa nodded and picked up the bucket, seeing as it was full of water, she grunted a bit at the weight. She quickly dumped the water out just below the window. She smiled when it landed square on the flame and put it out.
He jumped down off the roof and made his way around the corner to help Tessa put out the flames. The torch had caught the pile of firewood stacked up against the house aflame and it was starting to scorch the wall of the cabin.
Tessa's smile turned into a frown when she saw the wood catch on fire. Now what would she do? She hadn't seen a water barrel, then, of course, she hadn't been paying much attention. She was glad when Marc appeared from around the corner, he would know what to do.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jun 30, 2012 10:18:06 GMT -5
Well, it seems if there is someone after you, it might be wise for you to learn to defend yourself, not that you’ve done too badly today, but you might not have a frying pan handy out on the road,” he said with a grin. “I can give you some pointers if you are interested and have the time later, but hold that thought for a moment. I'll be right back.”
Olivia smiled she couldn't help it. Then as he disappeared she decided to save her reply until he came back. Instead she busied herself with finding some rope. Eventually she found some and began to tie up one of the bandits who seemed to be regaining consciousness. She made sure they were nice and tight. She grabbed his elbow and pulled the bandit into a sitting position, then she proceeded to drag the moaning bandit over to a wall, she grunted. "Man your like a fat cow!" She panted resting for a second or two then pulled him a little bit further. Luckily he was sliding easily across the wood floor but that didn't mean he was light. She was finally able to prop him up on the wall. "Oh stop your moaning! I didn't hit you that hard." "Tell that to my aching head!" Olivia rolled her eyes then examined his head none to gently causing the bandit to wince and grunt with pain slightly. "You'll get over it ya big baby." Then she left him to his pain and started to tidy up the place. She put the table back on it's legs, then began to pick up her belongings that had been scattered about during the fight. She stuffed them in her bag and placed the chairs back around the table. She paused in her work and looked around her. "Well as long as you ignore the dead bandits and smell of wood smoke it looks just like new." "Hey lady please loosen these? My fingers are going numb." Without looking at him Olivia replied. "Not a chance. And Good i'm glad they are going numb."
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 1, 2012 23:04:55 GMT -5
Marcus saw the flames die down when Tessa dumped the water on them and then they flared back up again in the wood pile. He jumped over a pile of un-chopped wood and kicked the stacked wood away from the cabin wall, scattering it in the grass.
“Hand me the bucket, quick!” Marc said to Tessa and reached for it through the window. Quickly he ran and filled it up from the water trough in the back of the cabin and doused the burning logs, rolling them on the ground to snuff out the flames. Within minutes the fire was out except for a few smoldering wisps of smoke from a couple of pieces at the heart of the fire.
Marcus darted out into the trees, pulling his cloak around him and moving silently from one tree to another as he circled the house. He found tracks where at least three men fled into the woods back to the west and one set of tracks heading into Araluen. Marcus thought those might have been Snarkin’s footprints, but he wasn’t sure.
He checked on the horses, who had fled when the torches were flying through the air and returned upon his whistle. They seemed to be fine now, so he strode back into the cabin. Just as he was coming in he heard one of them say, "Hey lady please loosen these? My fingers are going numb."
Without looking at him Olivia replied. "Not a chance. And Good i'm glad they are going numb."
Marcus laughed as he walked in the door. “Well if they fall off, I guess it will be harder for you to steal from honest folks, won’t it?” He laughed again and helped Rolan haul out the bodies and secure the surviving bandits, tying them all together in a line and making sure the man with the numb fingers was good and secure.
He sorted through the items he had pulled from Marrow’s pockets and tossed onto the table. Most of the items were of little use or value, other than a scrap of parchment. Marc picked it up and read it. He looked at Olivia and then at the writing again and then handed it to her. It was a perfect description of Olivia, a sure sign that these bandits weren’t out randomly snatching pretty women, they were after Olivia. So now the question is why? First Snarkin and then Marrow. Now Marcus was rather disappointed with himself for letting Snarkin go so easily. Rick had always called him a softy and that one day he may come to regret it but he had also encouraged him to hang onto that trusting nature as long as he could. Now Marcus wondered if Snarkin was actually working with the other bandits and since he had failed, the rest of them had tried to snatch her from the road.
“I think we better get that missive you are supposed to be delivering to its intended recipient and then get you and Tessa back to Araluen before any of their friends show up.” Marcus pointed to the line of thugs trussed up and ready to start walking. “Rolan, do you mind taking that lot to the castle and throwing them into the dungeon? Better send someone out here to pick up these bodies too. I am fairly certain Marrow has a price on his head so there might be a bounty in it for you. I know we don’t normally collect on those, but I have been claiming the bounties down in Coledale and giving the money to some local charities and sometimes to the ward,” Marcus shrugged, “up to you though.”
“So Olivia, would you mind if Tessa and I escort you to your destination?” He asked her, “That is if Tessa doesn’t mind.” He looked questioningly at Tessa, “I don’t think it is all that safe for you to be running around these woods by yourself with all these bandits out here. I would like to escort you back to the Ward, if you don’t mind a detour with the Lady Olivia.”
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a1ko4
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 77
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Post by a1ko4 on Jul 2, 2012 12:13:13 GMT -5
“Hand me the bucket, quick!” Marc said to Tessa and reached for it through the window.
Tessa nodded and thrust the bucket out the window into his hands.
Quickly he ran and filled it up from the water trough in the back of the cabin and doused the burning logs, rolling them on the ground to snuff out the flames. Within minutes the fire was out except for a few smoldering wisps of smoke from a couple of pieces at the heart of the fire.
Tessa watched out the window as Marcus took care of the fire. Well, now she knew were the water was.
“So Olivia, would you mind if Tessa and I escort you to your destination?” He asked her, “That is if Tessa doesn’t mind.” He looked questioningly at Tessa, “I don’t think it is all that safe for you to be running around these woods by yourself with all these bandits out here. I would like to escort you back to the Ward, if you don’t mind a detour with the Lady Olivia.”
"Nope, not at all." Tessa was fine with a detour, as long as it kept her from the Ward. Besides, she be in trouble anyways. "I don't mind."
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jul 3, 2012 18:50:03 GMT -5
He sorted through the items he had pulled from Marrow’s pockets and tossed onto the table. Most of the items were of little use or value, other than a scrap of parchment. Marc picked it up and read it. He looked at Olivia and then at the writing again and then handed it to her. It was a perfect description of Olivia, a sure sign that these bandits weren’t out randomly snatching pretty women, they were after Olivia.
Olivia reached out and took the paper scanning it over. She frowned, why would a bandit have a description of her? She raised an eyebrow it even said that she usually wore a blue ribbon to match her cloak. That could mean two things. One: Some one she thought was a friend had betrayed her. Two: Someone had been secretly stalking her and watching her closely. She shivered at the the thought, she didn't like the idea that someone she didn't know had been watching her. The problem was to what end? Why would someone want her? To go through all of this trouble just to get her? She was just a simple courier she could thing of a dozen other couriers who she could see as better targets. For what? She didn't know. It was all so confusing she sensed that there was something going on. Something big, and it didn't look good.
“So Olivia, would you mind if Tessa and I escort you to your destination?” He asked her, “That is if Tessa doesn’t mind.” He looked questioningly at Tessa, “I don’t think it is all that safe for you to be running around these woods by yourself with all these bandits out here. I would like to escort you back to the Ward, if you don’t mind a detour with the Lady Olivia.”
Olivia looked up at her name not really comprehending his words as she had been puled form her thoughts.
"Nope, not at all." Tessa was fine with a detour, as long as it kept her from the Ward. Besides, she be in trouble anyways. "I don't mind."
Olivia opened her mouth to protest that she didn't need an escort. Then she promptly closed it as her rational mind finally put some sense into this very odd and trying day. If there were people after her, traveling alone and on the road or woods was not a good idea. She had almost been captured once there was little stopping them from doing it again. Unless she had a ranger with her, that might deter them or at least make them think twice about laying hands on her. Her "do it myslef" part of her finally gave in to logical reasoning and she nodded aware that she had been silent for a minute or so. "Yes Marcus, I would greatly appreciate an escort." she paused and hastily added. "If it isn't to much trouble that is."
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 12, 2012 12:36:04 GMT -5
"Nope, not at all." Tessa was fine with a detour, as long as it kept her from the Ward. Besides, she’d be in trouble anyways. "I don't mind."
Marcus smiled at her, “Good, I want to talk to your Head Master or Mistress of the Ward anyway.” He once again sized her up. She’d acted quickly and followed his instructions without argument and she was definitely a quick thinker and brave. He’d seen her climb and the more he thought about it, the more he thought she would make an excellent ranger. “While we are walking, maybe I can answer some questions you may have – about the Ranger Corps?” he suggested to Tessa.
Then he looked to Olivia who appeared to be weighing her options. He was just about to open his mouth and suggest some more compelling reasons for him to escort her, even though he couldn’t think of any, when she said, "Yes Marcus, I would greatly appreciate an escort." she paused and hastily added. "If it isn't to much trouble that is."
“Oh it’s never trouble for a ranger to run around in the woods,” he grinned, “that’s what we do!” He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment as he gathered up Marrow’s belongings from the table and shoved them into his pouch, except the piece of parchment which he studied again for several minutes. “I wonder…” he looked back at Olivia, “do you think it could be perhaps because of the missive you carry right now? Perhaps someone doesn’t want it to reach its destination,” he mused.
Then he went to Rick’s writing desk in the bedroom and pulled out a fresh piece of parchment and scratched a quick note:
Rick, I came to visit you but you weren’t here. Some bandits were. They tried to burn your cabin, but I took care of it. Will stop by again before I go back to Aspienne. Marcus
He set the paper under a candlestick in the middle of the table and then added, P.S. Sorry about the mess.
“I am going to have to come back here and clean up the place or Rick is going to take it out on my hide next time I see him.” Marcus looked around at the rather disheveled cabin with several blood stains on the hardwood floor. “Oh, and Snarkin got away in the struggle, so I guess I should stick around ‘till Rick gets back and fill him in on what happened.We want to keep an eye out for him too, in case he tries to snatch you again, Olivia” He was mostly talking to himself, it came from being alone on the trail so much. One talked to themselves or to their horse, because there wasn’t anyone else to talk to a great deal of the time. He hoped they didn't think he was weird.
“Anyway, let’s get that message delivered and get back to Araluen before dark.” Marcus suggested to the women and then peeked out the door before stepping out onto the porch, scanning the tree line for more bandits. He had no idea if they had gotten all of them or not. “Looks like the coast is clear right now,” he said over his shoulder to them. “Where is it you were heading, Olivia?”
He had his bow ready, though he didn’t walk around with a arrow knocked. He whistled and his horse came trotting up to the porch. Marcus stepped down and took up one of the reins, leading the horse slowly back down the trail to the main road. So far it seemed as if the outlaws had all been killed or captured, or the others had run-off to regroup and lick their wounds.
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